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Heat pump and remote.
Research report

Choosing a heat pump

Our step-by-step guide will help you choose the right heat pump.

The journey to finding the right heat pump starts with calculating the required heating capacity (kW) for your home. Then, work your way through these steps.

1. How many kW?

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2. Heating/cooling efficiency

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3. Low-temperature performance

4. High-wall or floor-mount?

5. Noise levels

6. Extra features

7. Choose a good installer

8. Use it wisely

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Rob W.
07 Feb 2022
Beware of installers

We bought a new apartment in Auckland. We had 2 heat pumps. 1 lounge and 1 bedroom. In Feb with high humidity both heat pumps began to leak water down the wall inside the apartment. The installer came out. We insisted upon the GIB being removed to see where the leaking problem was. In both cases the installer had used the wrong conduit which carry’s the water away from the wall mounted units. In addition, where the drain from each wall mounted unit, should have been facing downward ( gravity to take the water away). These were installed facing upwards. The installer did this. This caused the overflow and water poured down the walls. This was rectified at no charge by the installer. BUT. My advice is to be very careful with choosing installers and personally supervise ALL installations to be safe.

Consumer staff
23 Jul 2018
Re: Floor models, none recommended

Hi Michele,

Our results are from standard testing of heat pump models. That assesses the performance of the heat pump itself. In general, high wall models are more efficient – perhaps because they are more common and get more development from manufacturers. However, that testing doesn’t account for the position in the room. Mounting the heat pump close to the floor means it develops more convection – so in theory the heat will get distributed more evenly. But – be careful where they are located, as the heat at floor level can get blocked by furniture, whereas high wall models usually have a clear space.

The lower efficiency means that the floor-mounted models don’t score as highly. That being said, I would not say that you shouldn’t buy one as it may suit the space the best and some people don’t like the look of the high-walls. They can still do a good job at heating the home. The scores just show that there are more efficient models available.

Kind regards,
James, Consumer NZ writer

Michele M.
21 Jul 2018
Floor models, none recommended

What makes the floor models, less efficient than the high wall? None of the models were recommended or worth considering. They were all in the other category.

Allan J.
01 May 2021
Floor mounted best

They heat form floor level where the heat is required, hi-wall heat from ceiling level hot air rises & works twice as had to get the heat to seated level who needs a hot ceiling your feet are a floor level

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